Ballard Craftsman
Ballard Craftsman
Back view of house was taken before renovation. Small service porch blocked view of gardens, and unused driveway ate up valuable space. Back view after renovation shows new kitchen bump-out and roof terrace. Center window in dormer was made into door. Kitchen now opens to its own deck, and stairs lead to a masonry terrace that replaced driveway.Street view of house after renovation shows restored roof deck with new pedestals and ballustrade. Damaged overhangs were rebuilt. Gutters and roofing were replaced.Exposed to the weather, front stair was damaged and at some point replaced with an expedient design. We rebuilt it to blend with existing details, and used mahogany treads for durability.Closeup of master bedroom deck shows cut-out designs in ballustrade. On street-facing deck we used slats instead of pickets for more privacy. New eaves can be seen with their natural finish.This was the existing kitchen prior to renovation. You can see why we needed a bit more space...Kitchen expanded into new bump-out. A beautifully restored Wedgwood range steals the show. Walls are bead board. Cabinets are a lightly stained cherry with black Richlite countertops. Oak flooring was continued throughout first floor.Corner with the best sun and view became our new breakfast alcove. We designed a trestle table and bench to fit the space. Instead of lift-top access, bench has two deep drawers that extend from ends.Dining room had lost most original features, except its built-in buffet. Windows flanking buffet may have rested on a plate rail, so we built one with wainscoting below. A later drywall ceiling was removed to uncover box beams. Door and window cornices and arch in bay window were added.Existing opening between living and dining rooms was too wide. We added a colonnade, typical of the period, which allowed corners to be furnished. Our design included china cabinets with art glass to match new doors for buffet.New master bedroom was built within existing front-facing gable. We removed ceiling and added skylights. We replaced an original terrace door between windows that had been removed. Master bedroom entry is located at the top of the stairs. Transom windows are a traditional device to ventilate tall rooms and borrow natural light. Former closet was made into a new bathroom.Detail of new master bath shows period fixtures owners found and reconditioned. Fixtures retain patina of age and have distinctive character. They also add a sense of authenticity to renovated bathes.
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This lucky 1913 Craftsman house was carefully restored and upgraded by its owners over a seven year period, one project at a time. Missing details and features were either restored or designed anew from period sources. Our work included restoring dining room, designing new master bedroom suite, new addition with larger kitchen, restoring eaves and porches. And now they're talking about the garage!
June/July, 2010, issue of Old House Journal (pdf) featured this project with photos by David Whelan